SEACOR Hosts Joint Services Demo

By Staff Writer | December 1, 2009

Emergency Medical Service, Offshore

Public Service | EMS/SAR

Two SEACOR Holdings subsidiaries, Era Helicopters and SEACOR Environmental Services, conducted a joint search and rescue (SAR) and EMS demonstration with Priority 1 Air Rescue on Oct. 28 in Sabine Pass, Texas. The presentation was part of a teaming agreement between Era and Priority 1, which is based in Mesa, Ariz. The two companies are offering FAA-approved SAR and EMS training to offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico and internationally. The demo featured two scenarios, with a group of more than 40 observers—including representatives from offshore oil companies, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston and Air Station Houston—watching from the deck of the SEACOR Quest, a 160-foot supply vessel. SEACOR says that the display shows the company’s ability to quickly send out air and sea assets to respond to medical crises, hurricane evacuations, oil spills and other EMS situations.

Under the teaming arrangement, Priority 1 crews—such as flight paramedics, hoist operators and rescue swimmers—supplement Era pilots and helicopters. Both the AgustaWestland AW139 and the Eurocopter EC225 are dedicated to the program, and have the capability to perform deepwater SAR operations up to 250 nautical miles offshore. John Allen, senior vice president of the Environmental Services unit, says the company’s aircraft and marine assets allow SEACOR to “offer its customers unique capabilities to facilitate emergency medical and environmental response.” Jim Shugart, Era’s executive vice president for marketing, adds that, “with a single phone call, SEACOR’s assets and highly trained professionals can be utilized to respond to any scenario.” Among the services available are a SAR response preparedness course from subsidiary O’Brien’s Response Management; aerial SAR operations and helicopter/rescue team training from Era and Priority 1; and ship-based SAR training from National Response Corp., SEACOR Environmental Services and SEACOR Marine. Photo by Molly Hottinger/SEACOR Holdings Inc.